Black HistoryFacts

Did you know???

Henry Blair is believed to be the second African-American to receive a patent. He invented a corn seed planter in 1834 and a cotton planter in 1836. Because he could not read or write, Blair signed his patent with an “X.”

In 1897, African-American inventor Alfred L. Cralle patented the first ice cream scoop. His original design remains in wide use.

In 1884, Judy W. Reed became the first African-American woman to receive a patent for a hand-operated machine used to knead and roll dough.

Mark Dean, along with Dennis Moeller, invented the Industry Standard Architecture systems bus, which allowed for the use of computer plug-ins such as disk drives, printers and scanners.

BlackHistory Facts

Mayor of major city: Carl Stokes, Cleveland, Ohio, 1967–1971. The first black woman to serve as a mayor of a major U.S. city was Sharon Pratt Dixon Kelly, Washington, DC, 1991–1995.

Governor (elected): L. Douglas Wilder, Virginia, 1990–1994. The only other elected black governor has been Deval Patrick, Massachusetts, 2007–

U.S. Representative: Joseph Rainey became a Congressman from South Carolina in 1870 and was reelected four more times. The first black female U.S. Representative was Shirley Chisholm, Congresswoman from New York, 1969–1983.

U.S. Senator: Hiram Revels became Senator from Mississippi from Feb. 25, 1870, to March 4, 1871, during Reconstruction. Edward Brooke became the first African-American Senator since Reconstruction, 1966–1979. Carol Mosely Braun became the first black woman Senator serving from 1992–1998 for the state of Illinois. (There have only been a total of five black senators in U.S. history: the remaining two are Blanche K. Bruce [1875–1881] and Barack Obama (2005–2008).

U.S. cabinet member: Robert C. Weaver, 1966–1968, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development under Lyndon Johnson; the first black female cabinet minister was Patricia Harris, 1977, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development under Jimmy Carter.

BlackHistoryFacts

Jesse Jackson successfully negotiated the release of Lieutenant Robert O. Goodman Jr., an African-American pilot who had been shot down over Syria and taken hostage in 1983.

Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion, patented a wrench in 1922.

The theme song for the groundbreaking African-American sitcom Sanford and Sons was composed by music great Quincy Jones.

In her early life, Coretta Scott King was as well-known for her singing and violin playing as she was for her civil rights activism. The young soprano won a fellowship to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, the city where she met future husband Martin Luther King Jr.

Black History Facts

Did you know:

When African-American neurosurgeon Ben Carson was a child, his mother required him to read two library books a week and give her written reports, even though she was barely literate. She would then take the papers and pretend to carefully review them, placing a checkmark at the top of the page to show her approval. The assignments inspired Carson’s eventual love of reading and learning.

Politician, educator and Brooklyn native Shirley Chisholm survived three assassination attempts during her campaign for the 1972 Democratic nomination to the U.S. presidency.

As a young girl in Harlem, Althea Gibson was a local table tennis champion. Her skills were eventually noticed by musician Buddy Walker, who invited her to play tennis on local courts.

Black History Facts

Did you know???

Paul Cuffee, a philanthropist, ship captain and devout Quaker who supported a return to Africa for black citizens, transported 38 free African-Americans to Sierra Leone in 1815. He also founded one of the first American integrated schools in 1797.

At a time when universities did not typically offer financial assistance to black athletes, African-American football star Ernie Davis was offered more than 50 scholarships.

Black History Facts

Did you know????

In 1938, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt challenged the segregation rules at the Southern Conference on Human Welfare in Birmingham, Alabama, so she could sit next to African-American educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune. Roosevelt would come to refer to Bethune as “her closest friend in her age group.”

Legendary singer James Brown performed in front of a televised audience in Boston the day after Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Brown is often given credit for preventing further riots with the performance.

Female science fiction author Octavia Butler was dyslexic. Despite her disorder, she went on to win Hugo and Nebula awards for her writing, as well as a “genius” grant from the MacArthur Foundation.

Happy Black History Month!!!

As an African-American woman, I believe it’s important to share interesting facts about my history. This month, along with the blog, I will be posting Black History Facts.

God bless!

Black History little known facts:

Allensworth is the first all-black Californian township, founded and financed by African-Americans. Created by Lieutenant Colonel Allen Allensworth in 1908, the town was built with the intention of establishing a self-sufficient city where African-Americans could live their lives free of racial prejudice.

Before Wally Amos became famous for his “Famous Amos” chocolate chip cookies, he was a talent agent at the William Morris Agency, where he worked with the likes of the Supremes and Simon & Garfunkel.

Scientist and mathematician Benjamin Banneker is credited with helping to design the blueprints for Washington, D.C.

Black History Facts:

2/20/1927: On this day Sidney Poitier, who will be the first African-American to win an Academy Award in a starring role, is born in Miami, Fl.

Nathaniel Alexander was the first to patent the folding chair. His invention was designed to be used in schools, churches and at large social gatherings

Otis Boykin invented electronic control devices for guided missiles, IBM computers, and the control unit for a pacemaker.

Scientists like Katherine G. Johnson has made a significant mark in NASA’s history, playing a key role in their use of digital electronic computers.

It’s important to teach the youth of today how many contributions African-Americans made to life as we know it. Show them how to value where they came from so that they can strive to be better in the future. Share a Black History fact with your child today. Show them how innovative African-Americans were and still are. Encourage them when they dream big and don’t tear down their ambitions. You never know you may have the next scientist or inventor living in your home. Show them how they can build on the success of their ancestors. If they were able to succeed in tough times during segregation and racism, then our children can succeed in better conditions.